Minamoto Yorimasa

Minamoto Yorimasa (1106-1180) was a Minamoto samurai who was also Head of the Arsenal for the Heian Empire at some points. Serving eight different emperors in his long career, he was also an anthology writer, and was friends with Taira Kiyomori. Yorimasa fought in the Hogen Rebellion of 1156 and the Heiji Rebellion of 1160, in the latter of which he opposed his own clan's rebellion against the Taira. But in 1179 he left the Taira army and in 1180 he decided to join the Minamoto side in the Genpei War. At the First Battle of Uji he attempted to rescue Prince Mochihito from Taira Tomomori's army, but was defeated, and Mochihito was put to death. Yorimasa committed seppuku in the first known act, disemboweling himself.